Charter Oak High School Athletic Trainer Dr. Matt Simok has been named the 2026 Southern Section Male Athletic Trainer of the Year, a distinction that recognizes him as the top male athletic trainer across the CIF Southern Section.
He was honored April 20 at the Academic Awards ceremony at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, where he received a plaque and banner ahead of the Los Angeles Angels game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The award highlights years of work that have helped elevate Charter Oak High School’s Sports Medicine program into one of the most respected in the country.
Under Simok’s leadership, Charter Oak’s Sports Medicine Team has earned national recognition for its performance in academic and medical competitions. The team was ranked No. 1 in the nation among schools with enrollments of 1,000 to 1,999 students and No. 2 in the nation overall by the American Academic Competition Institute. Charter Oak students also placed No. 5 nationally at the 2025 National Anatomage Tournament in Las Vegas after advancing through regional qualifiers that included 678 schools and finishing as the top team in the western United States.
The Anatomage competition tests students’ knowledge using a 3-D, life-sized interactive anatomy table commonly used in medical education and healthcare settings. Students are challenged to apply advanced anatomical and medical knowledge while working collaboratively in a high-pressure environment.
Beyond competition success, Simok has helped expand academic opportunities for students interested in healthcare careers. Through a dual enrollment partnership with Mt. SAC’s Kinesiology Department, Charter Oak High School students can earn up to 12 college units while still in high school. District officials believe the program is the first of its kind in California and gives students a significant head start toward an associate’s degree in athletic training.
Simok’s recognition reflects both his professional leadership and the strength of a program that continues to create real-world pathways for students. At Charter Oak High School, that work is helping students gain hands-on experience, build college-level skills, and explore futures in sports medicine and healthcare before graduation.